Muddy Stilettos


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>The North Yorkshire Moor&#8217;s only market town, Helmsley (located between Thirsk and Pickering) is a location that delivers a history lesson stretching from the Stone Age (3000BC) to the modern day with the Vikings in between. What is lacks in transport links it makes up for in charm, dramatic countryside, destination dining<strong>, </strong>scrupulously scrubbed 18th-century cottages, award-winning indie shopping and a Norman castle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="603" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-23-at-11.51.31.png" alt="Michelin star dish at The Black Swan in Oldstead " class="wp-image-80148" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-23-at-11.51.31.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-23-at-11.51.31-600x362.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-23-at-11.51.31-871x525.png 871w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A Michelin-star dish at The Black Swan </figcaption></figure>



<p>So many tea rooms, so little time. If you move here: you’ll need a will of iron, blinkers or Couch to 5K to cope with the tea shops and bakers, delis and grocers, selling sucrose in various forms: pickles, jams, chutneys, chocs, fudge, treacle, Yorkshire curd tarts, mint choc chips. Muddy would be a regular at dog-friendly <a href="http://www.becktearoom.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cocoa Tree</a>, run by a local family and serving cream teas to die for. The stand-out restaurant in town is the <a href="https://www.fevershamarmshotel.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feversham Arms</a>, where Wordsworth once stayed and now you can tuck into six divine courses for £60 (paired wine flights cost £40).</p>



<p>On a sunny day locals favour the beer garden at <a href="https://www.helmsleybrewingco.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helmsley Brewing Co.&#8217;s Taproom</a>, a stripped-back microbrewery and pub, for a drink and chat. There are plenty of cosy coaching inns in town serving delicious comfort food, such as the <a href="https://feathershotelhelmsley.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feathers</a> and the <a href="https://www.inncollectiongroup.com/the-black-swan/restaurant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Black Swan</a>, but there&#8217;s also a galaxy of Michelin starred-restaurants ringing Helmsley – <a href="https://www.blackswanoldstead.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Black Swan</a> at Oldstead, <a href="http://thestaratharome.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Star Inn</a> and <a href="https://www.thepheasanthotel.com/restaurant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pheasant</a> at Harm and three AA rosette <a href="https://www.thehare-inn.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hare</a> at Scawton, are all a short drive away. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SHOP</h2>



<p>A previous winner of best market town in the Great British High Street Awards, Hemsley&#8217;s definitely punching above its weight on the shopping front. For a one-stop shop you can&#8217;t beat <a href="https://www.thomasthebaker.co.uk/deli-and-butchers.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thomas of Helmsley</a>, an organic butcher, baker and (no, not a candlestick maker) a delicatessen. There&#8217;s also a sweetshop and bookshop, as well as outlets for antiques, so you can get pretty much everything you need — good job, because York is an hour away by car.</p>



<p>Helmsley&#8217;s renowned for its interesting independent boutique shops, cute tea rooms, pubs, cafes,  but there&#8217;s also an attractive arts and crafts side to the town, think galleries (<a href="https://www.saltboxgallery.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salt Box Gallery</a> is a must-visit) and interior design studios. Even if you’re not a big shopper, browsing in the historic buildings they&#8217;re based in is a treat. Another bonus is the weekly Friday market – a tradition that allegedly dates back to the 13th Century.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="569" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-23-at-11.53.43.png" alt="" class="wp-image-80150" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-23-at-11.53.43.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-23-at-11.53.43-600x341.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-23-at-11.53.43-900x512.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Helmsley Castle </figcaption></figure>



<p>Get used to your new surroundings on the <a href="http://www.visithelmsley.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Visit-Ryedale-Helmsley-Discovery-Trail.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helmsley Discovery Trail,</a> a 2K scenic stroll taking in key sites like the town&#8217;s 900-year-old medieval <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/helmsley-castle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Castle</a>, five-acre <a href="https://helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helmsley Walled Garden</a> and snaking River Rye. <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rievaulx-abbey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rievaulx Abbey</a>, the first Cistercian abbey in the north of England, is a serene place to while away an afternoon and a short walk from the castle. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>Hit up thriving <a href="https://www.helmsleyarts.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helmsley Arts Centre</a> for all your cinema, theatre, workshops, pantomime and live music needs. For an art fix, check out <a href="http://www.lookgallery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Look Gallery</a> on Castlegate, and the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sissonsgallery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sissons Gallery</a> in the Market Place. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE</h2>



<p>Average house prices have been £399,008 over the last year. Lots of detached properties, costing around £527,376 with semi-detached homes costing £285,000 and flats £159,500.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HOT PROPERTY</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1620" height="1080" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/33029913-0.jpg" alt="Helmsley family home" class="wp-image-96533" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/33029913-0.jpg 1620w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/33029913-0-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/33029913-0-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/33029913-0-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1620px) 100vw, 1620px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">5/6-bed detached family home in Helmsley, <a href="https://www.boultoncooper.co.uk/property/carlton-road-helmsley-york-33029913/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on the market for £875,000</a></figcaption></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.littleyearsnursery.co.uk/our-nurseries" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Years Nursery</a> on Carlton Lane lies near the local primary school, takes children from a few months old, provides holiday and after school care for kids aged up to 11 and has a lovely little garden and colourful rooms. If you can&#8217;t get a place, there&#8217;s another branch five miles away in Kirbymoorside. <br></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>There are some excellent schools. <a href="https://www.helmsley-rlt.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helmsley Community Primary School</a> is rated Ofsted Good, while <a href="https://www.ryedale-rlt.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ryedale</a>&nbsp;is an outstanding local comprehensive for older years (it regularly makes lists of England&#8217;s top secondary schools). Five miles away, boarding and day school <a href="https://www.ampleforthcollege.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ampleforth College</a> is one of the UK’s top independents and takes children from junior school (11 years) through to 18. If you&#8217;re prepared to travel a bit further afield, <a href="http://www.terringtonhall.com">Terrington Hall Prep</a> to the south and <a href="https://www.yarmschool.org">Yarm School</a> – an excellent prep 30 mins further north – are good choices. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>It&#8217;s grisly past. The discovery of four 2,000 year old skeletons in Windy Pit caves was investigated but the BBC Two programme&nbsp;<em>History Cold Case</em>&nbsp;in 2011.  The result? At least one had been the victim of a ritual killing, including&nbsp;scalping.<sup><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmsley#cite_note-9"> </a>Yikes!</sup></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>You&#8217;ll need a car! Public transport is very patchy, but soak up those daily scenic drives with views of the North Yorkshire Moors. There&#8217;s a limited bus service running to and from Scarborough Station and Helmsley&#8217;s Market Square (No.31X). For York, jump on the No31X which run twice a day and take 1hr 10mins. The nearest mainline train station is 25 mins away at Thirsk and will chug you into London&#8217;s King Cross in 2hrs 45mins (more often the not you have to change at York or Northallerton).  </p>



<p>View the full&nbsp;<a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/">Top 260 Best Places to Live</a></p>


Best Places to Live: Helmsley, North Yorkshire

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